No matter how hard we try to fight it, the hard truth is that kids are going to get hurt. What's even harder to swallow is, sometimes there's nothing we can do about it, sometimes it just can't be prevented.
Some people go to great lengths and take great care when it comes to childproofing their house, and there are certain measures that I fully agree with: out let covers, locks on cupboards with chemicals, that sort of thing. But at the same time, rather than bubble wrap every piece of furniture, I think we'd be doing both ourselves and our children a favour by allowing them to learn some things on their own.
Of course nobody likes to see their little ones get hurt, especially when we feel like the whole thing could have been prevented. (If only I'd moved that piece of lego, or grabbed him or her sooner, he/she wouldn't have tripped or fallen.) But little accidents are disguised as golden opportunities for learning. Once our little ones learn that if they run on wet floor they just might slip, they're probably less likely to do it again, (of course sometimes it does take repetition before a lesson is learned).
And although it's terribly upsetting to see some big horrible boo boo on our perfect little angels, most of the time it's soon forgotten. It happens. Our little one cries about it. And then they let it go. I think we could stand to learn something from our darling little fearless adventurers... Perhaps, after we've administered as many hugs and kisses as needed, we should do the same and just let it go?
I've also been told that A is for Arlee Bird, the one who created this wonderful challenge. So big shout out to him, thanks so much for the great idea and the opportunity to connect with others.
I found with my kids that they would look at me or their mother when they fell over or hurt themselves. My heart would leap into my mouth but I remained calm and din't change facial expression. Consequently they were almost always tear-free. I noticed my wife would react differently a look of horror on her face and sympathetic tone to her voice generally resulted in uncontrollable sobbing.
ReplyDeleteI was very clumsy as a child, always fell over or walked into lamp posts. I would generally get laughed at and harsh as it sounds I never used to cry.
I see the same thing with my kids, if you don't make a big deal about it, they won't, so I try not to make eye contact, otherwise, the waterworks start!
DeleteI was a clumsy kid too and I also walked into lamp posts lol, I cried though :)
Great advice and very similar to how I react toward my nephew. I let him try and fail as much as possible. It's the only way we learn and develop. Of course children should be protected from the most dangerous of circumstances, but we (as adults) should always allow them to experiment and grow on their own. On another note, thanks for the kind comments and I look forward to reading you future challenge posts as well. Good luck!
ReplyDeleteExperimenting and figuring things out on their own is probably one of the best parts of being a kid, when do we start learning to dislike this I wonder?
DeleteI certainly let my children learn some things on their own. Eating worms for example. No way I was going to share in that wonderful experience with them.
ReplyDeleteHappy A-Zedding
from Debbie
http://writingworkshopsandcompetitions.blogspot.co.uk/
ahhh! Worms gross me out beyond belief! I can't even step on them without freaking out. Your kids really ate worms?? I'm laughing and screaming all in one :)
DeleteHi Jessica,
ReplyDeleteThank you so much for visiting my blog and leaving such a thoughtful comment.
I totally agree that children can survive a few little knocks and bumps. They seem to bounce! Yes, it's usually the mothers who feel the pain the most.
Nice to meet you!
I agree, it's definitely more painful for the parents when it comes to all those bumps and bruises.
DeleteJessica thank you for stopping by my blog today and leaving such up lifting encouraging words.
ReplyDeleteYes children do survive the bumps and knocks you need to let them grow through them so they survive the bigger ones in life as adults. You are right no one wants to see a little one get hurt. I think it is harder for me now as a grandma. You gave great advice.
Blessings
I can only imagine it would be harder for a grandparent, having to see the little sweeties they get to love and spoil with a booboo.
DeleteThank you for visiting my blog too. :) This was a great post, I think a lot of parents need to here its ok and that you can't anticipate everything. Its part of being kids.
ReplyDeleteThanks :) Thanks for stopping by :)
DeleteYour post reminds me of some vague memories from my early childhood. I was born blind in my right eye. Funny thing, I didn't realize this until I was older, so I never self-corrected. I threw caution to the wind, which resulted in me running into things and smacking the right side of my face on walls, table edges, etc. I had a constant black eye, which brought unwanted attention and accusations of child abuse. Something had to be done...
ReplyDelete...Mom put padding on all of the face-level sharp parts of our house. I remember foam wrapped in masking tape around the edges of tables and the corners of walls. I eventually learned to adapt to my blindness. I still got hurt somewhat more than the average kid (lack of depth perception had a lot to do with that), but I was never discouraged from playing.
Learning from making mistakes, and wearing the scars to prove it, is no big deal. I'd rather be banged up and bruised than bored.
well I guess there are always exceptions when it comes to bubble-wrapping everything :) At least you had an excuse for all your bumps and bruises, me, I'm just clumsy.
DeleteThanks for stopping by my blog today Jessica.
ReplyDeleteIt's true that you dont know what will hurt you until you experience it yourself. Stepping in when it looks like getting dangerous is a good idea but otherwise you just have to let em go.
Another way to look at it is - think of the cool scars you can brag about when you are older.
I suppose that's one way of looking at it, we definitely all have some scars.
DeleteI also try to stay calm and not show distress in my expression when my daughter hurts herself. It's hard, but they do look to you for their reactions sometimes. I try to distinguish between the big dangers - holding hands while walking along roadsides is a must - but be more relaxed about the little ones. Great post, and great to find your blog from the A to Z list. I'll be back!
ReplyDeleteI know, that's the worst part, those sweet little eyes staring at you, waiting to see what you're going to do. It's so hard to hide emotions sometimes.
DeleteSo truly spoken. Your words bring back memories of all of my now-grown angels. Once I sat right next to one of two-year-old daughters who was climbing onto the lawn chair to sit when it tipped. I wasn't fast enough to grab her or the chair, and she fell and split her head on the brick step on the front porch. (Another trip to the emergency room for stitches.) I've stood so close many times and couldn't avoid the mishaps.
ReplyDeleteI agree you should not bubble wrap, but must allow them make mistakes in order to learn.
Great post. I'm a fellow A-Z Challenger.
Hugs,
Kathy (794 on the list) Have a great day!
Oh my goodness, I would have been terrified. I definitely panic in situations like that. And that's the worst feeling, when you're right there and you're just not quick enough. It happened with my youngest when she was drinking from a sippy cup. I thought, "I should grab her and make her sit down." I was just reaching out my arm and she fell forwards with the cup in her mouth. She had a swollen lip, bloody was everywhere and the bruise inside her mouth looked horrific. I hate not being able to save them from such things. :(
Deletei remember when the kids were little--if they got hurt, i was almost afraid to look!!
ReplyDeleteI don't blame you. When you first hear the cry of distress, I think the thoughts spinning in your head are almost always worse than what actually took place.
DeleteThanks for coming by my blog and sharing A-Z. I finally got ahead and have C ready to go before it's posting day! Have fun posting A-Z this month!
ReplyDeleteYes, so hard to see them get hurt! It seems to be far more painful as a mother than as a child. I remember hurting myself as a kid, but it was part of childhood and I shook it off, saved it for a story one day. But I shudder to see my kids get any major pain!
ReplyDeleteWe've had two incidents - both broken collar bone. I have twins. One stood in front of a swing as a blimp was passing by - I was consoling the other who was terrified of the blimp and all the kids were looking up at it, including the one who got hit. She started walking while looking up, while a little girl was swinging and looking up, and I looked over just in time to see what happened, but not stop it. My daughter was right at the low point of the swing - highest velocity - the little girl came down and knocked my daughter down by wrapping her legs around her shoulders and neck. The worst of it was that my daughter didn't even cry - she went into immediate shock - wouldn't move, cry, speak, anything. It was when she was 2 1/2. After we ran CT scans to make sure there was no concussion or major damage, we figured out that she couldn't move her arm and it was a broken collar bone.
Six months to the day later, my other daughter fell off a futon (not on a frame, just sitting on the floor!) and broke her collar bone in the same place. I think that was a twin thing ...
Luckily they bounce back and heal very quickly!!
Oh, forgot to mention!
DeleteI'm Alana @ writercize.blogspot.com
On Arlee's team of ambassadors to cheer you on from A through Z. Keep up the fantastic work!!
Oh my goodness! Both with broken collar bones!! I would have been terrified if it had been me having to watch the whole incident with the swings. And it's crazy how even a short fall could be so damaging, I guess it's all in the way they land. Twins certainly have a strange connection. :)
DeleteYou're right though, at least kids heal quickly. :)